Today was the most-watched morning show in America, including in the Adults 25-54 demo, for the week of Aug. 17.
During the week, Today had 80,000 more total viewers than ABC News’ Good Morning America. It was also the only morning show to finish with week-to-week gains in one of the two measured categories, recording growth in total viewers.
According to Nielsen’s national live+same-day big data plus program ratings, GMA averaged 2.738 million total viewers and 440,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo for the week of Aug. 17. Compared to the previous week, ABC News’ morning show was down -1% in total viewers and -5% in the demo. When looking at how it performed in the same week in 2025, GMA grew +7% in total viewers but slipped -1% in the demo.
Today was No. 1 in total viewers and the demo with 2.818 million and 582,000 viewers, respectively, for the week that just ended. Today grew by +2% in total viewers but fell by -1% in the A25-54 demo compared to the previous week. It was the only newscast to gain viewers in any of the measured categories. When put up against the same week in 2025, Today was up +18% in total viewers and +13% in the demo.
CBS Mornings had 1.602 million total viewers and 258,000 viewers in the demo for the week of Aug. 17. Compared to the previous week, CBS News’ morning show was down by -6% in total viewers and the demo. Versus the same week in 2025, CBS Mornings saw declines of -5% in total viewers and -17% in the demo—the only newscast not to grow in both measured categories within this yearly comparison.
*Please note that year-over-year comparisons are based on Nielsen Big Data+Panel (2025) vs. Panel (2025) measurements.
August 17, 2026 (Nielsen Big Data + Panel):
| ABC | NBC | CBS | |
| • Total Viewers: | 2,738,000 | 2,818,000 | 1,602,000 |
| • A25-54: | 440,000 | 582,000 | 258,000 |
Source: Nielsen, NTI Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 National Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings Current Week (w/o 8/17/26), Previous Week (w/o 8/10/26) and Year-Ago Week (w/o 8/18/25). Season to date: Most Current Data Stream: 2025-2026 Season (9/22/25–8/23/26) and 2024-2025 Season (9/23/24–8/24/25). Season averages based on Big Data Plus Panel ratings start with the 2023-2024 season.
